Confirmation that Kasper Schmeichel to miss games, big opportunity for Sinisalo

The Celtic Star

·27 March 2025

Confirmation that Kasper Schmeichel to miss games, big opportunity for Sinisalo

Kasper Schmeichel confirmed out, big opportunity for Viljami Sinisalo, starting against Hearts on Saturday…

UEFA Nations League: Portugal – Denmark Denmark’s goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel is in pain in the shoulder during the UEFA Nations League playoff match in League A between Portugal and Denmark at JosÃ Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Photo: Bo Amstrup Ritzau Scanpix)

The Danish international manager Brain Riemer today confirmed via a Danish sports channel that the injury to Kasper Schmeichel during the recent Nations League clash with Portugal was sufficient enough to rule the shot stopper out of Saturday’s clash with Hearts, and indeed the next few weeks ahead.

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“He is injured and will be for the foreseeable future”

“The status is that Kasper is injured,” Brain Riemer told Danish TV channel Sport 2. “And right now we are doing the in-depth studies, which should provide an indication of whether we are talking about a shorter, medium or long injury period. I don’t think there is any doubt that he will not play this weekend.

“He has recovered quickly from injuries before. I know he is keen on that in this case, too, but he is injured and will be for the foreseeable future.”

Viljami Sinisalo’s time has come

That is undoubtedly a bit of a blow in our pursuit to win a domestic treble, but it represents a huge opportunity for Kasper’s understudy Viljami Sinisalo.

The Finnish shot stopper has only played one competitive game to date, against Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup, but he has all the experience and attributes to be more than a capable stand in for the vastly experienced and talented Schmeichel.

Viljami Sinisalo of Celtic during the second half of their pre-season friendly match against Manchester City at Kenan Stadium on July 23, 2024 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

At only 23 Sinisalo is a great prospect and was signed with the intention of becoming a potential replacement for the ageing Schmeichel. That day has come quicker than anticipated for the young keeper, but he looked calm and assured on his competitive debut back in February in the Scottish cup win over Raith Rovers.

No worries about the Finland keeper stepping up

Granted he wasn’t tested as such, but he’s certainly a keeper of great quality as his experience would suggest. He spent some time at Aston Villa and had several successful loan spells at lower league level, whilst he’s been capped at every age level for Finland including three caps at senior level.

01 10 2024, UEFA Champions League, Borussia Dortmund v Celtic, Goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo Celtic PHOTO DE: Dennis Ewert/RHR

Some supporters are saying that Brendan Rodgers’ squad rotation policy that has served him so well this season could and should have been extended to the goalkeeper position but curiously that was not the case. If it had been then Viljami Sinisalo would clearly have been better prepared.

A challenge Viljami will relish

This is a great challenge for Viljami, and one that he will undoubtedly relish. In the warn-up routines at Celtic Park he looks an impressive goalkeeper and this is his chance to put down a marker that he is the long-term Celtic number one.

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